Tuning with OBD1 3800's

[n0dih]

I see this from time to time, maybe this would help some get into the PROM based OBD1 cars.

First you need a tuning program.
Westers OBD1 Tuner
TunerCat. TunerCat, it is $69.95. Each Def file is $20. WELL supported and a good program. Realtime tuning program is available also. $99 or a $30 upgrade if you have the non RT version already. Yes you can drive and tune at the same time. Cool is an understatement!

TunerPro is free, TunerProRT is $30. But, the way he setup TunerProRT is still 100% usable free, with only a nag message. So you are encouraged to send Mark Mansur $30 for his massive efforts, which nearly no amount of $ captured from the cost of the program could ever recover, on TunerPro/TunerProRT, but he doesn't require it, he has a nag message on there if you don't. It is well well well worth it, helping him encourages further program development, so please do if you use it!. Most defs are free out on the net. This tool has so much to it you will take months to figure it out. You into hacking? Get TunerProRT..... Yes, RT stands for Realtime.

Datalogging Cable:
You will need a cable if you wanna datalog. This is important to have. Don't tune without datalogging. Unless you like fixing engines.... Cables can be purchased OR made. If you are into electronics, make your own. Pretty easy. Nothing more than $5-$10 in parts and some time. Really cheap. AKM will even help with selling boards.
Making your own cable

Sources or pre-made cables:
AKM Cables (akmcables.com)
PCMPerformance.com
Moates.net (Moates also has the realtime interface as well)

Datalogging
Freescan is one of my favorites. It is on Sourceforge now, source code and all. But may not work with all cars. Supported Vehicles on his site. 2.10 is last and final version.
TunerPro/TunerProRT has a built in datalogger. It might need some effort to get working right, but has some nice features.
EFILive v4 Look for the Free Eval License.
TTS Datamaster Not sure how much for the 3800 honestly, but this is the creame of the crop OBD1 datalogger. It was created by the granddaddy of the GM Diesel Tuning world, Steve Cole.
PCMComm Some info on it here PCMComm is the most compatible of the dataloggers.

PROM Burner:
Must have. They are all over eBay for cheap. Burners for $30-$35 are common. Make sure the burner supports your PROM that your car has. Tunercat.com has lists of which PROMs for which cars. Heck, even seen a PROM burner made from a network card!

4040's on homemade prom burner? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
EPROM BURNER by Harry Lythall - SM0VPO
EEPROM Burner
Welcome to www.moates.net! : Moates.Net, you can get real time and PROM burning, or just a PROM burner. Software to Flash and Burn is free.

UV Light:
You'll need one of these. I picked up a killer medium size commercial unit for $25 on eBay. You can make them too, but use caution, UV light can make you blind.

Mine is similiar to this, but very overkill for the average backyard tuner. UV EPROM Eraser

But plenty like this are fine:
UV Eraser/Eprom Eraser
Official Home Page of Roman Black

PROMs:
You need a couple. The 90's cars are easy to deal with. The 80's can be a nightmare sources are getting dry. 27C series are OTP, One Time Program, some have a window and can be erased and programmed again, 27SF's are EEPROMs. 29 series are also EEPROMs. Once burned, they can go in place of any flash memory. But can be pulled out and installed in a burner and electronically erasable and flashed again. Typically 10K to 100K times depending on the part. As the part ages, you might run into reliability issues with the flash.

Chips and Sockets : Moates.Net

RealTime Tuning:
You can get the ALDU1, APU1, or the older Ostrich.
List All Products (150+) : Moates.Net

Hacking cals (OBD1 and 2)
Tunercat has a definition editor that you can create your own defs, modify existing ones, for Tunercat.
TunerProRT has a built in definition editor also, also great tools to help find more tables, switches and constants.
WinOLS
IDAPro


EPROM Pinouts
http://tunercat.com/tnr_desc/eprom_pin/eprom_pins.html

Which chip do I have?
http://tunercat.com/tnr_desc/ecm_sup.html



Wanna learn more??

Welcome to diy_efi/efi332
DIY PROM - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
Welcome to www.moates.net! : Moates.Net

What do do if your vehicle is not readably supported?
See hacking above if you are brave enough. Not to be considered easy, not fast, can be very timeconsuming.
Shoot John @ Tunercat an email, ask him for help on finding a .tdf for your car. If he has the info, he can create the tdf file to go with Tunercat. He is very helpful and VERY knowledgable. He has been in this business since 1992. He knows his stuff.

[1995naSTA]

Great write-up.

Only thing I'd add is the 27 series ships, at least the 512's can be had in a flashable flavor.

And there's days of stuff to read on Third Gen about Maf-only tuning.

[n0dih]

27's are PROMS flashable, all are, but either UV erasable or OTP, one time program (no window to erase). 29's are EEPROMS's, Electronically Erasable PROM's.

Originally Posted by 1995naSTA

Great write-up.

Only thing I'd add is the 27 series ships, at least the 512's can be had in a flashable flavor.

And there's days of stuff to read on Third Gen about Maf-only tuning.

[dirtracr95]

Actually TunerPro RT is free too. $30 just gets it registered and there wont be a screen whnen you first start the program nagging you to pay the $30 and register.

[1995naSTA]

Originally Posted by n0dih

27's are PROMS flashable, all are, but either UV erasable or OTP, one time program (no window to erase). 29's are EEPROMS's, Electronically Erasable PROM's.

What I mean to say is electronically erasable then.

I am, and have been, using 27SF512 chips and I can erase them through my burner. I also have a couple of the UV erasable 27C512's.

[n0dih]

Ok, maybe it is 27C's that are UV or OTP and 27S's aren't. I would have to pull each datasheet.

There is probably a lot more to the technology there in the datasheet.

Thanks! I will update the post.

I'll try to get the datasheets together and post them so we can get more info posted. Glad there is other PROM Burners out there!

Originally Posted by 1995naSTA

What I mean to say is electronically erasable then.

I am, and have been, using 27SF512 chips and I can erase them through my burner. I also have a couple of the UV erasable 27C512's.

[n0dih]

Edits above in the initial post.